Johnson County, Arkansas

Last updated

Johnson County, Arkansas
Johnson County Courthouse.JPG
Courthouse in Clarksville
Map of Arkansas highlighting Johnson County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Coordinates: 35°33′00″N93°28′00″W / 35.55°N 93.466666666667°W / 35.55; -93.466666666667
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Arkansas.svg Arkansas
FoundedNovember 16, 1833
Seat Clarksville
Largest cityClarksville
Area
  Total
683 sq mi (1,770 km2)
  Land660 sq mi (1,700 km2)
  Water23 sq mi (60 km2)  3.4%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
25,749
  Estimate 
(2024)
26,172 Increase2.svg
  Density39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 4th
Website johnsoncounty.arkansas.gov

Johnson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,749. [1] The county seat is Clarksville. [2] Johnson County is Arkansas's 30th county, formed on November 16, 1833, from a portion of Pope County and named for Benjamin Johnson, [3] a Territorial Judge. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

Contents

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 683 square miles (1,770 km2), of which 660 square miles (1,700 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (3.4%) is water. [4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1840 3,433
1850 5,22752.3%
1860 7,61245.6%
1870 9,15220.2%
1880 11,56526.4%
1890 16,75844.9%
1900 17,4484.1%
1910 19,69812.9%
1920 21,0626.9%
1930 19,289−8.4%
1940 18,795−2.6%
1950 16,138−14.1%
1960 12,421−23.0%
1970 13,6309.7%
1980 17,42327.8%
1990 18,2214.6%
2000 22,78125.0%
2010 25,54012.1%
2020 25,7490.8%
2024 (est.)26,172 [5] 1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]
1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8]
1990–2000 [9] 2010 [10] 2020-2021 [1]
Age pyramid Johnson County USA Johnson County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg
Age pyramid Johnson County

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 25,749. The median age was 38.7 years. 24.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.4 males age 18 and over. [12] [13]

The racial makeup of the county was 78.0% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 7.6% from some other race, and 7.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 13.4% of the population. [13]

30.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 69.6% lived in rural areas. [14]

There were 9,902 households in the county, of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.8% were married-couple households, 19.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [12]

There were 11,475 housing units, of which 13.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.1% were owner-occupied and 29.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.7%. [12]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, [15] there were 22,781 people, 8,738 households, and 6,238 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13 people/km2). There were 9,926 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.69% White, 1.37% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.62% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 6.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,738 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,910, and the median income for a family was $33,630. Males had a median income of $25,779 versus $19,924 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,097. About 12.90% of families and 16.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 15.30% of those age 65 or over.

Racial composition

Johnson County racial composition (2020) [13]
Race / ethnicityNumberPercentage
White20,08478.0%
Black or African American4891.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native2831.1%
Asian9273.6%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander260.1%
Some other race1,9567.6%
Two or more races1,9837.7%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)3,45313.4%

Government

Government

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Arkansas and the Arkansas Code. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called justices of the peace and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in a county vary from nine to fifteen, and district boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. The Johnson County Quorum Court has eleven members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief operating officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions. [16] [17]

Johnson County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials [18] [19] [20]
PositionOfficeholderParty
County JudgeHerman H. HoustonRepublican
County ClerkMichelle FrostDemocratic
Circuit ClerkMonica KingRepublican
SheriffTom HughesRepublican
Treasurer/CollectorMelanie "Fred" CowellRepublican
AssessorRusty Hardgrave(Unknown)
CoronerPam CoganDemocratic
SurveyorJim Higby(Unknown)

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 8 Republicans and 3 Democrats. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are: [21] [22]

Additionally, the townships of Johnson County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the Constitution of Arkansas. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult. [23] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are: [22] [24]

Politics

Over the past few election cycles, Johnson County has trended heavily toward the GOP. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry this county was Arkansas native Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996.

United States presidential election results for Johnson County, Arkansas [25]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
%%%
1896 49121.06%1,83178.55%90.39%
1900 55229.30%1,31769.90%150.80%
1904 50731.30%1,04764.63%664.07%
1908 54429.14%1,16462.35%1598.52%
1912 18912.57%92761.64%38825.80%
1916 57127.85%1,47972.15%00.00%
1920 99636.15%1,57957.31%1806.53%
1924 31119.78%1,02965.46%23214.76%
1928 76636.93%1,29262.30%160.77%
1932 28414.88%1,55781.60%673.51%
1936 31817.95%1,43280.81%221.24%
1940 31818.11%1,42981.38%90.51%
1944 59331.03%1,31168.60%70.37%
1948 52323.25%1,56569.59%1617.16%
1952 1,72845.90%2,02153.68%160.42%
1956 1,52046.84%1,69752.30%280.86%
1960 1,49042.29%1,93855.01%952.70%
1964 1,53532.78%3,12766.77%210.45%
1968 1,66732.64%1,74734.21%1,69333.15%
1972 4,10766.76%2,04533.24%00.00%
1976 2,17330.11%5,04469.89%00.00%
1980 3,61947.39%3,70948.57%3084.03%
1984 4,72060.30%3,05639.04%510.65%
1988 4,04658.29%2,81840.60%771.11%
1992 2,56333.82%3,95152.14%1,06414.04%
1996 2,36734.64%3,58552.47%88112.89%
2000 3,65751.07%3,27045.66%2343.27%
2004 4,31153.59%3,62245.03%1111.38%
2008 4,92260.17%3,03437.09%2242.74%
2012 5,06462.53%2,79934.56%2352.90%
2016 6,09166.85%2,42726.64%5946.52%
2020 6,93873.05%2,28324.04%2772.92%
2024 6,76674.69%2,10723.26%1862.05%

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Townships

Townships in Johnson County, Arkansas as of 2010 Johnson County Arkansas 2010 Township Map large.jpg
Townships in Johnson County, Arkansas as of 2010

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Johnson County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [26] [27]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "QuickFacts, Johnson County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  169.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  11. Based on 2000 census data
  12. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  14. "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  17. "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  18. "Officials – Johnson County, Arkansas" . Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  19. "Johnson | Association of Arkansas Counties". www.arcounties.org. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  20. "2022 General Election: County, District Officials" (PDF). www.arcounties.org. Association of Arkansas Counties. June 27, 2022.
  21. "Quorum Court – Johnson County, Arkansas" . Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  22. 1 2 "Johnson County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  23. "What is a Constable?". What is a Constable?. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  24. "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  25. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  26. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Johnson County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  27. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.

35°33′N93°28′W / 35.550°N 93.467°W / 35.550; -93.467